Zenit says it’s ready to take Arshavin

Is Andrei Arshavin, the baby-faced soccer star who has been playing for England’s Arsenal football club for the past two years, coming back to Russia?

“Zenit’s doors are always open for Andrei,” Igor Korneyev, sporting director at Zenit St Petersburg, told Talksport, according to ESPN. “If his situation at Arsenal does not improve and he’s not comfortable in London, we can study this issue in time for next season.”

Arshavin, who is also captain of the Russian national team, was signed to Arsenal in 2009, for a record £15 million fee. Speculation has been growing that the midfielder looking to leave the club, and last week he was forced to deny rumors of a rift between him and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Russia would certainly be glad to have Arshavin back. He remains a tabloid favorite here. And the country could certainly do with more television appearances like this: